Check writer



Feb. 21, 1933.

J. w. CARLSON CHECK WRITER Filed Sept. '7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l i MM lz farlsa/z 3 Feb. 21, 1933.

J. W. CARLSON CHECK WRITER Filed Sept. '7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA Feb. 21, 1933. w CARLSQN 1,898,030

CHECK WRITER Filed Sept. 7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 Umran srares :eATENr OFFICE JOHN W. GARLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 013 ILLINOIS COMIPANY,

ASSIGNOR TO HEDMAN MANUFACTURING CHECK WRITER -App1ication filed September 7, 1929.

My invention relates generally to check writers and more particularly to improvements in the means for scarifying the payee name line of a check or other negotiable instrument and in clearing the setup of the achine.

A number of check writers at present on the market are provided with means for scarifying the paper at the place where the payee name written, thereby to prevent alteration of the check by substituting the name of a difierent payee. Some of these machines require an additional manual operation to effect this scarification on the payee name line. lVhile in the machine of my invention an additional manual operation is required this operation is so related. to the operation of clearing the set-up of the machine that it requires but little additional effort on the part of the operator and will become habitual. More specifically, I have provided mechanism for operation 0 the payee name scarifying means upon slight downward movement of the clearing bail customarily used on the type of machine to which my invention relates.

Another diiliculty frequently encountered in check writing machines is that it is impossible conveniently and readily to vary the impression stroke of the apparatus so that some thin checks or papers to be protected are unduly mutilated, while the check or other instrument of heavier paper is insufhciently sca iiied. I have therefore provided an improved means for varying the pressure by which the type are forced against the platen.

It is therefore one of the primary objects of my invention to provide an improved means for operating the payee name scarifying means of a check writer.

A urther object is to provide an improved means of this typewhich is operated by the set-up clearing bail.

A further object is to provide an improved operating mechanism for a check writer in which are incorporated means to vary the force of impression.

A further object is to provide an improved operating means for check writers in which Serial No. 391,068.

the main operating shaft is mounted in rotatable members so that rotation of said members will move the shaft laterally.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of the check writer, the upper and rear porion of the casing being removed to show the working parts;

Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical section showing the full stroke mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the'machine, several of the well-known parts thereof being omitted; and

Fig. l is a left side elevation of my improved check writer with portions of the casing broken away to show the operating parts.

The machine of my inventionconstitutes an improvement on check writers of wellknown construction, such, for example, as that shown in the patent to C. M. Hedman, No. 1,703,106, granted February 26, 1929. It comprises a base 10 having suitable rubber feet 12. Serrated platens 14 and 16 are rigidly mounted in the base 10 in any suitable well-known manner, the platen '14 being adapted to cooperate with complementally serrated type to print and scarify the amount characters upon a check, and the platen 16 being adapted to cooperate with a complementally serrated matrix 18 carried by a resilient sheet 20 which is secured to the base 10 by screws 22. I

A pair of side frames 24 and 26 is formed from a single sheet of metal, the frames be ing joined by a horizontal plate portion 28 and secured to the base by screws 30. A

shaft 82 is mounted in the side frames 24 and 26 and forms a pivotal axis for the type carrying frame plates 3st anl 36 in the usual manner. The type carrying frame is normally held inraised position by a pair of torsion springs 38 which are coiled about the shaft 32 and have their ends bearing against lugs struck inwardly from the frame plates 34; and 36 and the plate 28, respectively.

eccentrically The type bearings discs or segments 42, which are adapted to be rotatably moved by finger pieces 44 to position any selected type in printing position, are mounted on a cen tral shaft 46, the ends of which are carried in the frame plates 34 and 36. The type are thus adapted to be moved toward and away from the platen 14 upon oscillating movement of the frame plates 34 and 36 about the shaft 32. The frame plates are joined by a heavy cross bar 48 which at its center has a pair of similar brackets 50 sup porting a stub shaft 52 upon which a roller 54 is mounted for free rotation.

An operating handle 56 is rigidly secured to a shaft 58 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 60 and 62, each of which comprises a plurality of washers which are secured together to form a single bearing by means of screws 64, the screws being threaded in arms 66 of a cross bail 68. The hearing members 60 and 62 are thus rotatable as a unit. It will be noted that the shaft 58 is mounted eccentrically in these bearing members 62. I

A short arm 70 formed integrally with a washer shaped plate 72 is secured to the bearing member 60 by the screws 64 and has a cap screw '74 threaded therein, the head of the cap screw lying outside of a sheet metal casing 76 and its shank projecting through an arcuate slot 78 formed in the casing. YVhen this cap screw is loosened the bearing members may be manually rotated through an angle limited by the arcuate slots 78 and may be clamped in adjusted position by tightening the cap screw 74 against the casing.

Centrally mounted upon the shaft 58 and rigidly secured thereto is a cam 80 which is adapted to cooperate with the roller 54 and upon rotation of the shaft thereby force the frame plates 34, 36 downwardly, carrying the type into engagement with the platen 14. By rotating the bearing members 60, 62, the shaft 58, due to the eccentricity of its mounting, will be moved toward and away from the roller 52 and thus the distance which the cam will be able to move the frame plates 34, 36 will be correspondingly varied.

After a check has been printed it is desirable, unless the next check to be protected is of the same denomination, to clear the setup of the type discs or segments 42. This is done by means of a bail 82 havin arms 84 pivoted on the shaft 46. The bail has a plate-like extension 86 which may be manually grasped to swing the bail upwardly, thereby picking up the finger pieces and restoring them to their initial positions.

The bail is normally held in the position shown by a pair of springs 88 which are tensioned between studs 90 threaded in the plates 24 and 26, respectively, and links 92 which are pivotally connected to the rear ward extensions 94 of arms 84. These rearward extensions 94 have suitable arcuate slots 96 cut therein to receive studs 98 projecting sidewardly from the ends of links 100, the other ends of the links being pivotally joined to arms 102 which are secured to a shaft 104 rotatably mounted in the plates 24 and 26. Rigidly secured to the shaft 104 is a pair of arms 106, the ends of which are joined by a short shaft 108 upon which a roller 110 is freely rotatable.

Pivotally hung from the shaft 58 is a pair of arms 112 which at their lower ends are joined by a cross bar 114 substantially S shaped in cross section. The arms 112 have forward projections 116. Links 118 each have one end pivotally connected to the forward end of projections 116, their other ends being pivotally joined to a presser lever 120 which is pivoted about the shaft 32 and has aforwardly and downwardly projecting foot portion 122 which is adapted to engage the upper surface of the matrix 18.

A grasshopper spring 124 has one end lodged in the kerf of screw 22, is coiled about the shaft 32, and has its other end engaging in front of he cross bar 114, and thus serves normally to swing the arms 112 rearwardly, thereby raising the presser levers and permitting the spring plate 20 to raise the matrix from its platen 16.

A full stroke mechanism, shown in Fig. 2 may be provided to prevent reverse rotation of the shaft 58 to force the operator to complete a full revolution of the handle after it has been rotated counter-clockwise beyond a predetermined point. This mechanism comprises a notched plate 126 rigidly secured to the shaft 58 and a stop pawl 128 which is mounted for free pivotal movement upon a stud 130 and the tooth of which is normally held in contact with the edge of the plate by a spring 132. This type of full stroke mechanism is well known in the art and it is believed unnecessary to describe it herein in further detail.

In operation the check to be protected is inserted between the platens 14 and 16 and the matrix 18 in the usual manner and the finger pieces 44 moved to set the desired amount type in printing position. If the paper of the check to be protected is unusually thin, the cap screw 74 is loosened and swung to the uppermost end of the arcuate slot 78, thereby moving the shaft 58 laterally away from the roller 54. The cap screw is then tightened so as to lock the bearing members 60, 62 in this set position. Conversely, if the paper of the check is extremely thick, the cap screw is swung to the lowermost end of the slot 78, thereby laterally moving the shaft 58 toward the roller 54 and consequently, upon operation of the machine, causing the type to be pressed more firmly against the platen 14. i

To operate the machine, the operating handle 56 is rotated one full turn counterclockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) whereupon the cam will engage the roller 54 and through the latter force the frames 34, 36 downwardly, pivoting them about the axis of the shaft 32 and forcing the selected type against the platen to print and scarify the check. It will be understood that the usual means for inking the type, such, for example, as shown in the aforementioned I-Iedman patent, are provided.

Upon completion of the amount impressing operation the operator will grasp the plate 86 and swing the bail 82 upwardly in the direction of the arrow A, thereby restoring the finger pieces 14, and hence the type se ments 42, to normal position. The slot 96 in the rearward extensions 94 of the bail elements 84 will permit this movement without affecting the mechanism for forcing the matrix 18 against its platen. After restoring the type segments 4C2 the bail 82 is swung downwardly in the direction of the arrow B, thus moving the links 100 rearwardly, swinging the arms 102, and hence the shaft 101, clockwise, and depressing the roller 110 against the cross bar 11 1. Downward movement of the roller 108 will cause the arms 112 to be swung forwardly and through the links 118 swing the presser levers 120 downwardly until the foot portions 122 thereof engage the matrix 118 and force the latter to scarify the payee name portion of'the check which lies between the matrix and its platen 16. Upon release of the plate 86 the spring 1241 will restore the last described mechanism to normal position and the springs 88 will return the bail 82 to the position in which it is shown.

The invention is capable of wide variation within equivalent limits and I contemplate such variation as may be desirable or useful in the particular adaptation of the invention shown, or in its adaptation to other machines. I do not restrict myself in any unessential particulars, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a check writer, the combination of a base, a serrated platen mounted on said base, a frame pivoted relative to said base, printing type mounted in said frame for selective cooperation with said platen, a pair of plates rigidly secured to said base, a bearing member rotatably mounted in each of said plates, an operating shaft eccentrically mounted for rotatable movement in said bearing members, a cam secured to said operating shaft, a roller mounted on said pivoted frame and engageable with said cam, and means for adjustably rotating said bearing members and holding them in adjusted position whereby the position of said cam relative to said roller-may be adjusted so that upon rotation of said shaft the type in said frame will be moved a predetermined distance relative to said platen.

2. In a machine of the class described, a platen, serrated type movable toward and away from said platen, operating means including a rotatable cam and cam shaft for moving said type to impressing position, and unitary means simultaneously operable at both ends of said shaft for adjusting the position of said cam whereby said type may be moved a predetermined distance toward said platen upon normal operation of said operating means.

3. In a machine of the classdescribed, the

combination of a plurality of type carrying members, finger pieces for selectively positioning said members, a platen for said type, a second platen adjacent said first-named platen and adapted to scarify the payee name portion of a check, a matrix cooperable with said second platen, a finger piece restoring member, and means for pressing said matrix against said second platen upon movement of said member.

1. In a check writer, the combination of pivoted frame carrying selectively settable type members, a platen for said type, a rotatable shaft having a cam for moving said frame toward said platen, a handle for rotating said shaft and cam, and unitary means simultaneously effective upon both ends ofsaid shaft for changing the relationship between said cam and said frame thereby to determine the distance said frame and type members will be moved toward said platen upon operation of said handle.

5. In a check writer, the combination of a pivoted frame carrying selectively settable type members, a platen for said type, a pair of side plates, bearing members rotatably mounted in said side plates, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members eccentric of the axes thereof, an operating handle secured to said shaft, a cam secured to said shaft and adapted to move said frame toward said platen, and means for adjustably positioning said bearing members by rotating them relative to said side plates thereby to vary the distance which said frame will be moved toward said platen upon rotation of said operating handle.

6. In a check writer, the combination of a base, a pair of platens mounted in said base, a pivoted frame carrying selectively settable type members cooperable with one of said platens, a matrix movable toward and away from the other of said platens, and a manually engageable member operable when moved in one direction to reset said type to normal position and when moved in the other direction to move said matrix toward'its platen.

7. In a check writer, the combination of a base, a pair of platens mounted therein, a frame movable relative to said base and carrying selectively e table type members cooperable with one of said platens, a matrix cooperable with the other of said platens, a bail for restoring said type members to normal position, and an operative con nection between said bail and said matrix whereby said matrix will be forced toward its associated platen when said bail is moved in a direction opposite to that of its restoring movement.

8. In a check writer, the combination of a base, a platen secured to said base and adapted to scarify the payee name portion of a check, a matrix movably mounted on said base and adapted to cooperate with said platen to scarify said portion of a check, a pair of levers having foot portions engageable with said matrix to press the latter against said platen, a manually operable bail, and a lost motion connection between said bail and said levers whereby said matrix may be forced against its platen upon movement of said bail in one direction and remain inoperative when said bail is moved in the opposite direction.

9. In a check writer, the combination of a base having a pair of platens mounted thereon, a frame movable relative to said base and carrying a plurality of selectively settable type members cooperable with one of said platens, manually engageable means for setting said type members, a type restoring member engageable with said lastnamed means to restore said type members to normal position, a matrix cooperable with the other of said platens, and an operative connection between said restoring member and said matrix for moving the latter against its associated platen upon movement of said restoring member.

10. In a check writer, the combination of a base havin a frame rigidly secured thereto and a frame pivotally secured thereto, a platen carried in said base, a plurality of manually settable type carrying elements mounted in said movable frame, a pair of bearing members adjustably mounted for rotation in said rigid frame and having bearing apertures eccentric of the axes thereof, an operating shaft jonrnaled in said bearing members, and a cam secured to said shaft and opera le upon rotation thereof to force said movable frame downwardly thereby to cause printing engagement of the type on said type carrying elements with said platen.

11. In a check writer, the combination of a stationary frame having a platen associated therewith, a frame movable with respect to said stationary frame, type carrying elements adjustably positioned in said. movable frame, a pair-of bearing members rotatably, mounted in said stationary frame, means rigidly connecting said members, means to lock said members in adjusted position, an operating shaft mounted for rotation in said members eccentric of the axes thereof, and cam means carried by said shaft and cooperable with said movable frame thereby to force the type carrying elements into engagement with said platen upon rotation of said operating shaft.

12. In a check writer, the combination of a stationary member having a platen associated therewith, a frame pivotally connected to said stationary member, aplurality of type carrying segments pivotally mounted in said pivoted frame and arranged for manual adjustment to present selected type thereon in alinement with said platen, a pair of bearing members rotatably mounted in said stationary frame, simultaneously operable means to rotate both of said bearing members and lock them in any selected position, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members eccentric of the axes thereof, a roller carried by said pivoted frame, a cam secured to said operating shaft and cooperable with said roller thereby to depress said pivoted frame and force the selected type thereof into engagement with said platen, and resilient means to return said pivoted frame to normal position. 7

18. In a check writer, the combination of a pair of platens, selectively settable type members cooperable with one of said platens, a matrix cooperable with the other of said platens, and common manually operable means for restoring said type members to normal position and causing said matrix to be engaged with its associated platen.

l l. In a ch ck writer, the combination of a pair of platens, selectively settable type members engageable with one of said platens to imprint and scarify an amount designated thereon, a matrix cooperable with the other of said platens to scarify a portion of the check adjacent that upon which the amount designation is printed and scarified, manually engageable means for restoring said type members to normal position, and an operative connection between said means and said matrix for causing said matrix to engage its associated platen upon operation of said means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of September, 1929.

JOHN VJ. CARLSON. 

